In last week’s blog, “Knowing and Doing”, I introduced the topic of knowing and doing what is right as opposed to what is wrong. I raised the question as to the authority behind the determination of right and wrong, and shared briefly that there are many different sources of authority to which one might submit. It might be a religious authority, a civil authority, a cultural authority, or one of many others.

This week I would like to investigate a few of these sources with the desire to determine if, indeed, one is correct and all others insufficient. Let’s begin by giving consideration to religious sources of authority. Please understand from the outset that it would be impossible to investigate each religion’s source of authority, so we will consider them all as a whole.

All of the world’s religions have their individual sources of written authority. The three major world religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – base their moral and ethical codes on their holy writings. Then, all of the other religions in the world also have their own sources of authority. Is it possible that one is right to the exclusion of any other? Well, to put it very simply, if there is such a thing as absolute truth, then there can only be ONE source of absolute authority. If something is absolutely true in one source, then it cannot be subjugated to any other source. Therefore, it would only stand to reason that there must of necessity be an absolute source upon which all truth is determined.

So, let’s summarize this brief discussion on religion’s sources of authority by stating the obvious. If the teachings of Judaism are correct, then all truth is contained in the writings of the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus, the New Testament is viewed as irrelevant, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, along with the writings of all the authors of the New Testament books, have no authority. The same can be said of the Koran of the Islamic faith. If the Koran contains the absolute source of authority, then all other sources are subjugated to it, and therefore have no basis in reality as a source of absolute truth. And finally, if Christianity is correct in its assessment that the Bible, in its entirety, is the source of absolute truth, then Islam’s Koran, and Judaism’s Old Testament, must be subjugated to the Scriptures contained in both Old and New Testaments.

Adherents of each of these three major world religions base their beliefs and behaviors on the teachings found in their respective sources of authority. So, is there any way to know with absolute certainty that the source of authority chosen by any individual is the correct source? Or, does it really make any difference at all in the eternal scheme of things? I’m sure we have all heard someone say, “It really doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe it sincerely.” But that is an absolutely ludicrous remark when we think about it. If that is true in one situation, it must of necessity be true in every situation. So, for example, if I sincerely believe that I can drink poison and not suffer any ill effects then it will be true for me, then I should be able to do it. But, we all know how ridiculous that would be.

So, when we apply that to religion’s sources of authority, it would mean, in essence, that all roads lead to heaven. As long as I believe sincerely, and practice my religious faith with total consecration, then I will have a home in heaven awaiting me when I pass from this physical life.

However, if we take the Bible literally, and base our beliefs on the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we learn quickly that believing something sincerely does not make it right. Allow me to share a couple of examples which will be sufficient to prove this point.

First, let’s give our attention the the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”

Matthew 7:21-23

This example focuses on certain individuals who obviously believe that a home in heaven is based on a life of works. They believe sincerely that doing all these things will attain for them eternal life, but Jesus says that it will only result eternal condemnation. Religion will not save you, no matter how sincere you are in your belief and behavior.

One more example, again coming directly from Jesus:

“Jesus said to Him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”

John 14:6

If the Bible is the source of absolute truth, then these words must be true. Therefore, if the words of Jesus recorded here are indeed true, then all claims of all other religions on how to attain an eternal home in heaven must be false. Two contradictory or opposing truth claims cannot be true if there is any such thing as absolute truth.

So now let’s get to the bottom-line question: How do I know that the Bible is the one true source of absolute truth? The adherents to the belief system of the Islamic faith believe their holy writings are true. The adherents of the Jewish faith believe that their holy writings are true and complete. They believe it just as adamantly as the Christian believes the Bible to be the only true source of absolute truth.

As I concluded last week’s blog, it all comes down to a matter of faith. Now, I know that some of you are already a step ahead of me, and you are asking the question concerning faith, “Didn’t he just say that it didn’t matter how sincere your belief is as long as you sincerely believe?” Yes, I did say that. But what we need to understand is that it takes sincere faith, but that sincere faith must be grounded on the truth.

I take the words of Jesus to be literally and absolutely true. My belief in His words does not make them true, just as someone else’s unbelief in His words does not make them false. My belief is based on the authority of Scripture, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I stake my eternal well-being on the words of Jesus. Adherents to the teachings of other belief systems may believe just as sincerely as I do, but if their belief is based on falsehood, then it is a false hope and will end in eternal destruction.

So, who, and what, do you believe? And are you now acting on your belief by living true to the teachings of Holy Scripture? If the Bible is true – and I believe that it is – then it makes all others false and void of any authority. They only serve to deceive. Make sure your faith is in the REAL truth, found only in the Bible.

In next week’s blog I will strive to look a little deeper at civil authority and cultural authority to see how they align with Scripture.